First Boat C22
The C22 is a great choice and the Annapolis Sailing School is also a good start. I bought my first boat, a C22, this spring! I also attended Annapolis Sailing School beginner weekend course.The course gave me all the basics of handling a sloop with many "man overboard" drills!!! We went through all sorts of different situations and it really prepared me for sailing. I then went (and over the last 2 years) and rented boats from Annapolis Sailing School (Rainbow 21) and from a sailboat rental site on the Potomac (flying scot 19'). This got me very comfortable with my own capabilities. I highly recommend that you buy a sailing book as a reference guide as the schools can only teach you so much and you can forget 1/2 of it between your sailing trips!!Anyway, last fall, I began my search in the Annapolis area. You will find that there isn't a broker around who wants to help you for the price you want to pay - it just isn't worth their time when they can sell a bigger boat for more money. You will therefore be dealing with owners. Owners seem to sell their boats in three major places: boatyards, newspapers, and the internet.I looked at 5 C22's before I picked my '88 wing keel. Unfortunately I had to go all the way up to Massachusetts to get it, but it is worth the trip.I disagree with some of the postings as I think trailering a pocket cruiser like the C22 is a pain ... raising the mast properly takes at least 2 strong people and each time you chance putting a chink in the rigging.One last thing (and this note is probably longer than they allow!), get a roller furling ... very very very helpful to the beginner sailer and simplifies soooo much and makes single handing a breeze!John Clearyjohngcleary2000@aol.com